Funtastic Japanese preschool collects rainwater puddles for kids to play in

Taking into account how important it is to play in nature from a young age, architecture firm Hibino Sekkei designed a school where kids can splash in the rain. Situated in Kumamoto City, the Dai-ichi Yochien is an inventive preschool with an open courtyard that accumulates rainwater to form a big puddle on the floor. On dry days, the space is used for ball games, so whether it rains or shines, these kids will be out to play.

Kids all over the world go mad about puddles, while the adults are often overly concerned their children might get wet, cold and eventually fall ill. But this unique school in Japan encourages kids to play with the elements, with an internal courtyard that allows a small pond to form after it rains.

And when the patio is dry, it makes a wonderful badminton or softball court. Then, during winter, it turns into an ice skating rink.

The whole school plan, as well as its curriculum, is happy, flexible and unconstrained, with plenty of glass walls and natural light. Also, to teach kids to look after their own stuff, their parents are required to purchase individual desks and chairs, which the children keep until graduation. We wish all kids could have a school like this.